Recent Stories
- Lancaster set to receive funding boost to stimulate UK's economy
- Billion-year-old water could hold clues to life on Earth and Mars
- How do we find out about cyber criminals?
- First, carbon footprints... now you can calculate your 'nitrogen footprint'
- Lancaster to play leading role in UK-India cyber security team
- LEC PhD student, Beth Brockett, organises knowledge-exchange event for farmers
- Florence Nightingale Day successfully raises profile of women in mathematics and statistics
- LEC Volcanology Field Course sees erupting Mount Etna
- Company rewards Security Lancaster students for business solutions
- Environment: Over 80 people attend book launch for 'The Burning Question'
Business Collaboration to Develop Clean-up Technique
Story supplied by LU Press Office
John Ashford and Hayley Gilpin
South Lakeland based property developer Ashford Associates is working with Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC), at Lancaster University, on a new technique to clean up contaminated industrial land so that it can be redeveloped safely and quickly.
Ashford Associates, which specialises in the development of industrial sites, is currently working with a Lancaster University graduate on a stabilisation methodology to 'lock up' ash within the soil at an ex gas works and tannery site that it owns on Kendal's Parkside Road.
By working with a recent graduate the company hopes to play a part in stemming the 'brain drain' from the region by providing much-needed opportunities for skilled people.
Ashford approached Lancaster Environment Centre's DESIRE (Delivering Environmental Solutions Into Regional Enterprise) programme for help in the development and commercialisation of the technique.
DESIRE is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, and since its conception in 2003 has placed a large number of graduate consultants, undertaking Environmental Science and Geography Masters Degrees, into a wide variety of North-West businesses.
Ashford Associates recently opened an office at LEC and following a rigorous selection process, DESIRE matched up Lancaster University Environmental Science Graduate Consultant Hayley Gilpin with the company. Hayley is currently working with Managing Director John Ashford, to investigate the effectiveness of the land remediation method pioneered by the company, and to develop a model for the suitable implementation of the technique on a wide-scale basis.
John Ashford is delighted with the alliance.
He said: 'LEC is a major Research and Development resource virtually on our doorstep and will become invaluable to any organisation wishing to engage in Contaminated Land Remediation and renewable energy systems locally. Having Hayley with us is an excellent opportunity for the business to develop its land remediation activities.
"This link with Lancaster University also demonstrates how it is possible for business to benefit from local graduates like Hayley and help stem the 'brain drain' from South Lakeland. Increasing the local skill base, with high value knowledge-based skills, is extremely important to the area and to the regeneration of Kendal.
"Ashford Associates and Managing Growth have a joint project called Design Gateway within the Kendal Regeneration Plan. A major platform for Design Gateway will be auditing and designing brownfield land remediation and renewable energy systems. This will not only mean we are putting in infrastructure to Kendal Regeneration Plan, but also projects to go into that infrastructure."
Mon 21 January 2008
Associated Links
- Ashford Associates
- DESIRE - Delivering Environmental Solutions Into Regional Enterprise
- Lancaster Environment Centre - Innovation, training and research for a sustainable future
Latest News
Lancaster set to receive funding boost to stimulate UK's economy
Lancaster is amongst leading universities who are set to benefit from a £50 million investment in cutting-edge research and innovation projects to drive growth. Lancaster's project will use the strong international reputation and links in China, in particular with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to address the Government's priorities to focus on high-growth SMEs and to increase exports. Using expertise from across the University, it focuses on improved leadership and new technology...
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Fri 17 May 2013
Billion-year-old water could hold clues to life on Earth and Mars
A UK-Canadian team of scientists has discovered ancient pockets of water, which have been isolated deep underground for billions of years and contain abundant chemicals known to support life.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Thu 16 May 2013
How do we find out about cyber criminals?
Security Lancaster and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics held a workshop to form a new collaborative group who will widen the knowledge of cybercrime and start developing innovative approaches to obtaining information on cyber criminals. The workshop included security researchers and statisticians, solicitors specialising in cybercrime, and experts from government agencies.
Thu 16 May 2013
First, carbon footprints... now you can calculate your 'nitrogen footprint'
Scientists at Lancaster, Virginia and Oxford universities have produced a web-based tool that allows anyone living in the UK to see their own 'nitrogen footprint'.
Story supplied by LU Press Office
Wed 15 May 2013